Deck frame for automobile tops



M. R.- HULL DECK FRAME FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS Aug. 21, 1928.

Filed Dec. 9, 1925 3mm Mafiheu/RHull.

atto'maq Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES MATTHEW R. HULL, OF CONNERSVILLE,

DECK FRAME FOR Application filed December My invention relates to a support for the deck frame of an automobile top and it is an object of the same to provide a construction of this character which shall be inexpensive in manufacture but yet shall be very substantial, and which shall be very easily applied.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, a

Figure 1 is a plan of my construction,

Figure 2, a section on line 2-2 of Fig ure 1, 1 I

Figure 3, a section on an enlarged scale taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4, a section on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5, a detail of a modification.

In the drawings reference character indicates end bows supported by side rails 11. The end bows are here shown as being composedof a core consisting of a strip 12 of ragboard or similar material covered with strips of sheet metal 13 which are bent in such a manner as to have their edges 14 spaced from one another at the outside of the bow to leave a tacking space and may be longitudinally corrugated at the inside. Bows made of ragboard, wood or the like combined with a covering of sheet metal, e. g. sheet steel, are very satisfactory in that they may be bent to shape easily on account of the flexibility of the core which is protected by the covering, while at the same time .the core prevents buckling of the metal covering. A strip of flexible material 15 which may be heavy cloth or leather or the like is attached to each of the end bows by tacks 16, these strips being provided with openings protected by eyelets 17. WVires 18 extend from one of the strips 15 to the other, said wires engaging at their ends in the eyelets 17 and being bent as indicated at 19 to hold them in place. It will be understood that various means may be provided for securing these wires to the bows and that suitable precautions will be taken to prevent chafing of the deck covering by the wires. The ellipse made by bending the wire is not such as to abrade or injure the material of the top. The points may be turned downward as shown in Figure 5 if preferred.

Between the bows 10, intermediate bows 20 of slightly different character are pro- PATENT OFFICE.

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO REX MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CONNEBSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

9, 1925. Serial No. 74,405.

vided, these bows consisting of strips 21 of ragboard or other suitable material which may also be covered with sheet metal, as indicated at 22. A folded strip 23 of heavy canvas or the like is attached to each .bow at the upper sideby means of tacks 24 and this strip is slitted for admission of the wires 18, as clearly seen in Figure 4. V

In Figure 5 there is shown a modified arrangement of parts similar to those in Figure 3, the difference being that the hooks at the ends of the wires are inserted through the strip 15 from above instead of from be low and thereafter bent to hold them in place.

In the use of my device the wires are attached to different bows and, are more widely spaced at the rear end of the frame than at the front. The wires at the sides also are located closer together than those at the middle of the frame as they have to bear greater strains and are more subject to displacement. Furthermore the coverlng at the sides must be supported at more frequent intervals at the deck quarters than at the flat parts of the top. The trimming may be applied in any conventional or desirable manner.

My construction affords a smoother and I more permanent shape and contour than can readily be had otherwise and also affords a considerable saving in that it does not requlre the labor and material necessary for padding and wadding the usual cape top quart-er. There is little chance of sagging and wrinkling and if any part of the top is bent or displaced it will either spring back to position or can readily be brought back to position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: c

1. A deck frame comprising end bows, holding strips fastened to said bows each of which projects inwardly towards the opposite bow, said holding strips being provided with eyelets, an intermediate bow, a holding strip mounted on said intermediate bow and being provided with perforations and longitudinal wires having their ends disposed in the eyelets of the holding strips of the end bows and extending through the perforations of the holding strip of the intermediate bow, substantially as set forth.

2. A deck frame comprising a pair of end bows of unequal length, a holding strip on each of said end bows projecting inwardly from the same, each of said holding strips bein provided with spaced eyelets correspon ing in number to the eyelets of the other holding strip, wires supported longi: tudinally in said eyelets, the arrangement being such that the wires are spaced apart a greater distance along the bow of greater length than alongthe shorter bow, substantially as set forth.

3. A deck frame comprising front and rear end bows with curved portions adjacent their extremities, a holding strip on each of the end bows extending inwardly therefrom and provided with eyelets uniformly spaced along the fiat portion of the how but spaced in closer relation along the curved portion of the bow, and flexible supporting elements connecting the eyelets and the front and rear bows whereby a deck frame is provided having reenforced sides, substantially as set forth.

4. A deck frame comprising front and rear end bows, an intermediate how, a holding strip on each of said bows, spaced apertures in the holding strip on the intermediate bow, and supporting wires extending through said apertures and having their ends connected to the holding strips on the front and rear hows, substantially as set forth.

5. A deck frame comprisingend bows consisting of strips encased in sheet metal with a tacking space at one side, holding strips secured to the bows by tacks engaging said tacking spaces, an intermediate bow having a holding strip secured thereby provided with apertures, and wires mounted longitudinally between the holding strips on the end bows, said wires extending through the apertures in the holding strip on the intermediate bow, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Conncrsville, Indiana this 7th day of December, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-five.

MATTHEW R. HULL. 

